 JEDDAH - Imams (preachers) of Saudi mosques have come in for severe criticism for not being able to guide Saudi youth away from extremist ideologies that pose a serious threat to the security and stability of the country.
| Did he say this in English or Arabic? |
“The more than 15,000 mosques in the country constitute the best forums for guidance, but the imams have failed miserably in discharging their duties,” Interior Minister Prince Nayef said after opening a seminar on Human Rights in Higher Education and Intellectual Security at Umm Al Qura University in Makkah on Wednesday night.
| "The infidels are on to us!" |
“Frankly speaking, I would like to say that the imams of mosques, with the exception of the two holy mosques, have not played their desired role (in the fight against extremism),” Prince Nayef said. “The introduction of topics related to human rights in the education or any other area of life does not mean that our society is ignorant or deficient in human values as some quarters have been portraying,” Prince Nayef stressed.
He highlighted the significant role universities had to play in keeping the young Saudis away from the dangers of destructive ideologies. “Since universities are centres of research, it is their duty to study ways to root out ideas that distort religion and defame the nation,” he told an audience that included Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al Anqari and Rector of Umm Al Qura University Adanan Wazzan.
| So shut yer yaps and do as yer told ... |
Prince Nayef urged intellectuals in Saudi universities to shoulder their responsibility in keeping society free of extremist ideologies. “Intellectual security is by no means less important than public security,” he said.
He added that the security of a country was closely related with scientific achievements. “Universities should be capable of contributing to the service of the country and it is in line with the teaching of Islam which urges its followers to benefit from fruits of learning,” he said.
| Does that mean that the princes will fund fewer madrassas and more real schools? |
He said that by following the true path of Islam the Muslims would be able to achieve security and stability everywhere. He added the late King Abdul Aziz, founder of the kingdom, had striven to introduce modern sciences into the country and to convince the people of their importance.
“After the unification of the country, King Abdul Aziz’s concerns were about the people’s education and their security, and his sons followed the footsteps of their great father in this respect,” he said.
| Worked well so far, huh ... |
While speaking with the faculty members of the university, Prince Nayef expressed his hope that no harm would come to the country, which was always defended well. He commended the achievements of the soldiers and other security organs in the past in foiling the destructive designs of terrorists. “We have proved to the world that the Saudi security forces are capable of confronting the challenges of the deviant ideology though the country was the main target of extremist plots,” he said.
| Proven to whom, exactly? I don't remember the Saoodi forces doing so well in the Gulf War. And the security forces have allowed a steady stream of rubes into Iraq and Afghanistan. |
While commending the strong cooperation between citizens and the security forces, the minister stressed the role of the citizens as the first line of the defence of the country against all kinds of enemies. |